The history of Great Britain being the life and reign of King James the First, relating to what passed from his first access to the crown, till his death
Wilson, Arthur, 1595-1652.
Page [unnumbered]
The Authors PICTURE drawn by Himself.
AS others print their Pictures, I will place
My Mind in Frontispiece, plain as my Face;
And every Line that is here drawn, shall be
To pencil out my Souls Physiognomy,
Which on a Radiant height is fixt. My Brow
Frowns not for these Miscarriages below,
Vnless I mean to limit, and confine,
Th' Almighty Wisdom to conceits of mine.
Yet have no envious Eyes against the Crown,
Nor did I strive to pull the Mitre down;
Both may be good; But when Heads swell, men say,
The rest of the poor Members pine away,
Like Ricket-Bodies, upwards over-grown,
Which is no wholsome Constitution.
The grave mild Presbyter I could admit,
And am no Foe to th' Independent yet;
For I have levell'd my intents to be
Subservient unto Reason's Soveraignty;
And none of these State-Passions e'r shall rise
Within my Brain, to rule, and tyrannize:
For by Truth's sacred Lamp (which I admire?)
My Zeal is kindled, not Fanatick fire.
But I'll avoid those vapours, whose swoln spight,
And foaming Poyson, would put out this light.
Vain Fuellers! they think (who doth not know it)
Their light's above't, because their walk's below it.
Such blazing Lights like Exhalations climb,
Then fall, and their best matter proves but slime:
For where conceited Goodness finds no want,
Their Holiness becomes Luxuriant.
Now my great trouble is, that I have shown
Other mens faults, with so many of my own;
And all my care shall be, to shake off quite
The Old Mans load, for him whose burthen's light,
And grow to a full stature, till I be
Form'd like to Christ, or Christ be form'd in me.
Such Pieces are Grav'n by a Hand Divine.
For which, I'l give my God this Heart of mine.
Contemnit linguas vita probanda malas.
